The Nicosia International Festival, entering its sixth edition, has presented its new visual identity, saying its fresh direction is the result of a design competition won by a collaboration between DpS Athens and Semiotik Design Athens.
"This new identity wasn’t built from scratch; instead, it evolves from the existing logo of Nicosia2030, breathing new life and renewed energy into it," a press release said. "It’s a creative repositioning that reinforces the message of sustainability: a symbol originally designed with a limited time-frame now gains long-term momentum. Nicosia becomes the starting point for radial paths of dialogue, collaboration, and co-creation – extending from the local to the global."
The new logo, it added, is rich in symbolism. Its structure draws inspiration from the city’s unique morphology, deep-rooted history, and distinct character. The name Nicosia ("Λευκωσία" in Greek) takes centre stage, while the final logo reflects an interplay between light and the enduring cultural heritage of the Cypriot capital. The letter "Λ" (Greek “L”) serves as a key visual unit: its radial repetition – like rays of light and creativity – forms a bold and cohesive visual identity that highlights the power of the individual as a vital part of the collective.
But the inspiration doesn’t end there. The logo also “embraces” the iconic Venetian walls of Nicosia, underscoring the city’s role as a crossroads of cultures. These walls, the heart of the city, are re-imagined as visual rays radiating energy, culture, and vitality, drawing from the diversity of people and cultures that have passed through – and continue to coexist – on the island. Their forms also echo architectural features of Nicosia’s historic Municipal Theatre building.
Finally, the logo’s new colour palette is derived from the Municipality of Nicosia’s primary colours – blue and yellow – blended into a modern, vivid lime shade. This vibrant green-yellow hue marks the beginning of a bold, new era for the Festival.
The Nicosia International Festival is taking place from 18 September until 19 October. To find out more click here
Biographies of the design team
DpS Athens is an international award-winning branding and design practice headed by Dimitris Papazoglou. Their multidisciplinary team consists of visionary designers, branding strategists and talented creatives. They develop content-driven, contemporary design solutions that balance the desire to connect on an emotional level with the omnipresent need for direct, strategic, and effective communication. Their client portfolio includes Athens and Epidaurus Festival, Drama International Short Film Festival, Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art, Museum of Cycladic Art / Athens and National Library of Greece.
Semiotik was founded in 2014 by Dimitris Koliadimas, who was previously co-founder and creative director of Designers United. Since 2005, together with his team they have collaborated with exceptional individuals, great organisations, start-ups and multinational brands around the world, providing a wide range of design and consulting services, performing in complex environments and achieving remarkable results. Their work has been awarded numerous national and international distinctions, including D&AD, European Design Awards (ED), Red Dot Design Awards, Dieline, Pentawards, Type Directors Club (TDC) and Art Directors Club (ADCE Awards). Their client portfolio includes ΕΜΣΤ Ɩ National Museum of Contemporary Art Athens, Thessaloniki Concert Hall, Thessaloniki Film Festival, Dimitria Festival (Thessaloniki).
